"Three Generations of African American Women Sculptors:
A Study in Paradox" features 50 sculptures by 10 African American women
representing more than 100 years of overcoming the persistent obstacles
of racism, sexism, and class structure.

In the nineteenth century, women had little opportunity
to pursue their educations, to say nothing of advanced art training. They
fought against institutional barriers that prevented them from studying
at art academies with their male peers. And they struggled against the prevailing
notion that women artists were merely hobbyists who pursued art as a means
to achieve refinement or as a way to decorate their homes.

While women were encouraged to dabble in watercolors, acquiring
the skills necessary to work in the demanding field of sculpture was a daunting
task that met with resistance at every turn.

This exhibition is a testament to the tenacity and creativity
of the artists. The works range in date from the 1860s to the 1990s, and
reflect the general development from Neo-Classicism, as exemplified by the
work of Edmonia Lewis, to more contemporary pursuits, as seen in the work
of Geraldine McCullough and Barbara Chase-Riboud. In spite of great cultural
obstacles, each woman expressed the creative voice within.

This exhibition is organized by the Afro-American Historical
and Cultural Museum in Philadelphia with sponsorship from AT&T, John
S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Henry Luce Foundation, Inc. and the
William Penn Foundation. Local sponsorship provided by Carson Products Company.